Chapter 16 - AWARDS BECOME HEAVY
For a while Eamon hated certificates.
Teacher handed him one?
He left it in his backpack.
Soccer coach gave ribbons?
“No.”
Birthday-party game prize?
He gave it away immediately.
Maya Chen—his counselor—did not call it pathological.
He associated public recognition with conflict.
Reasonable after what happened.
We stopped pressuring.
At home, I praised actions without creating trophies.
“You worked hard.”
“You helped.”
“You kept trying.”
No:
You’re the smartest.
No:
You’re our winner.
Then one day at six, Eamon came home with a paper star.
He placed it on the refrigerator.
“What’s that?”
“Cleanup helper.”
“Nice.”
He waited.
I kept cooking.
No ceremony.
Five minutes later:
“You didn’t take picture.”
“Want me to?”
He thought.
“Yes.”
I took one.
He smiled.
That was healing.
May you like
Not rejecting awards forever.
Choosing what they meant.
